turash/docs/concept/impact/ENVIRONMENTAL_IMPACT_ASSESSMENT.md

Environmental Impact Assessment

Overview

This document quantifies the environmental impact of Turash industrial symbiosis platform, providing measurable metrics for CO₂ emissions reduction, waste reduction, and circular economy benefits. This assessment aligns with DBU #DBUcirconomy requirements, EU Green Deal objectives, and funding application needs.

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Executive Summary

Turash Platform Environmental Impact (Year 1-3 Projections):

Metric	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Cumulative
CO₂ Emissions Avoided	100,000 t CO₂	500,000 t CO₂	1,200,000 t CO₂	1,800,000 t CO₂
Waste Heat Recovered	500 GWh	2,500 GWh	6,000 GWh	9,000 GWh
Waste Diverted from Landfill	50,000 t	250,000 t	600,000 t	900,000 t
Water Reused	2.5 M m³	12.5 M m³	30 M m³	45 M m³
Material Circularity Rate	15%	25%	35%	-
Businesses Engaged	500	2,000	5,000	-

Key Environmental Benefits:

• CO₂ Reduction: 1.8M tons cumulative by Year 3 (equivalent to 390,000 cars off the road)
• Waste Heat Recovery: 9,000 GWh equivalent to 2.5 million households' annual heating needs
• Circular Economy Impact: Closing material loops, reducing virgin resource extraction
• Regulatory Alignment: EU Green Deal 55% emissions reduction target support

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1. CO₂ Emissions Reduction

1.1 Methodology

Turash uses GHG Protocol-compliant calculations for CO₂ emissions avoidance from industrial symbiosis exchanges. The platform tracks:

1. Waste Heat Recovery - Displacing fossil fuel-based heating/cooling
2. Material Reuse - Avoiding virgin material production
3. Water Recycling - Reducing energy-intensive water treatment
4. Waste Diversion - Avoiding landfill methane emissions

1.2 CO₂ Calculation Methods

Heat Recovery (Primary Impact - Year 1 Focus)

Formula:

CO₂ Avoided (t) = Heat Energy Recovered (MWh) × Grid Emission Factor (t CO₂/MWh) × Conversion Efficiency Factor

Parameters:

• Grid Emission Factor: 0.3 t CO₂/MWh (EU average, 2025)
• Conversion Efficiency Factor: 0.9 (accounting for heat exchanger losses)
• Source: European Environment Agency (EEA) grid mix data

Calculation Example:

• 500 GWh waste heat recovered (Year 1 target)
• CO₂ Avoided: 500 GWh × 0.3 t CO₂/MWh × 0.9 = 135,000 t CO₂ (Year 1)

Conservative Estimate (accounting for variable demand):

• 100,000 t CO₂ avoided (Year 1, realistic with 70% utilization rate)

Material Reuse & Waste Diversion

Formula:

CO₂ Avoided (t) = Waste Diverted (t) × Production Emission Factor (t CO₂/t) × Waste-to-Energy Credit (t CO₂/t)

Parameters:

• Production Emission Factor: Varies by material (steel: 2.0, concrete: 0.3, plastics: 2.5 t CO₂/t)
• Waste-to-Energy Credit: 0.2 t CO₂/t (avoided landfill methane)
• Average Material Impact: 1.5 t CO₂/t (blended across materials)

Year 1 Example:

• 50,000 t waste diverted
• CO₂ Avoided: 50,000 t × 1.5 t CO₂/t = 75,000 t CO₂

Water Reuse

Formula:

CO₂ Avoided (t) = Water Reused (m³) × Treatment Energy (kWh/m³) × Grid Emission Factor (t CO₂/MWh) / 1000

Parameters:

• Treatment Energy: 0.5-1.5 kWh/m³ (typical industrial water treatment)
• Average: 1.0 kWh/m³
• Grid Emission Factor: 0.3 t CO₂/MWh

Year 1 Example:

• 2.5 M m³ water reused
• CO₂ Avoided: 2.5 M m³ × 1.0 kWh/m³ × 0.3 t CO₂/MWh / 1000 = 750 t CO₂

1.3 Annual CO₂ Reduction Projections

Year 1: MVP & Pilot Validation

• Focus: Heat matching (primary impact)
• Platform Scale: 500 businesses, 50 cities
• Heat Recovery: 500 GWh (100,000 t CO₂ avoided)
• Material Reuse: 50,000 t (75,000 t CO₂ avoided)
• Water Reuse: 2.5 M m³ (750 t CO₂ avoided)
• Total CO₂ Avoided: 100,000 t CO₂ (conservative, heat-focused)

Year 2: Regional Expansion

• Platform Scale: 2,000 businesses, 200 cities
• Heat Recovery: 2,500 GWh (500,000 t CO₂ avoided)
• Material Reuse: 250,000 t (375,000 t CO₂ avoided)
• Water Reuse: 12.5 M m³ (3,750 t CO₂ avoided)
• Total CO₂ Avoided: 500,000 t CO₂

Year 3: National Scale

• Platform Scale: 5,000 businesses, 500 cities
• Heat Recovery: 6,000 GWh (1,200,000 t CO₂ avoided)
• Material Reuse: 600,000 t (900,000 t CO₂ avoided)
• Water Reuse: 30 M m³ (9,000 t CO₂ avoided)
• Total CO₂ Avoided: 1,200,000 t CO₂

3-Year Cumulative: 1,800,000 t CO₂ avoided

1.4 Verification & Compliance

Standards Alignment:

• GHG Protocol: Corporate Standard & Scope 3 (downstream)
• ISO 14064: Greenhouse gas accounting and verification
• CSRD: Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive compliance
• EU Taxonomy: Technical screening criteria for circular economy activities

Verification Approach:

• Real-time Tracking: Platform automatically calculates CO₂ savings per exchange
• Audit Trail: Complete source data, calculation formulas, assumption documentation
• Third-Party Verification: Option for MRV (Monitoring, Reporting, Verification) compliance
• Double-Counting Prevention: Attribution tracking (company/city/platform level)

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2. Waste Reduction & Circular Economy Impact

2.1 Material Circularity Metrics

Circular Economy Impact Framework:

• Material Loop Closure: Percentage of waste streams converted to resources
• Virgin Resource Displacement: Reduction in primary material extraction
• Waste Diversion Rate: Percentage of waste diverted from landfill/incineration
• Resource Efficiency: Improvement in material productivity (€/ton material)

2.2 Waste Reduction Calculations

Waste Diverted from Landfill

Year 1 Projections:

• 500 businesses × 100 t/business average = 50,000 t waste
• Assumption: 15% diversion rate in Year 1 (conservative, heat-focused)
• Waste Diverted: 7,500 t (reuse/valorization)

Year 2-3 Scaling:

• Year 2: 250,000 t waste × 25% diversion = 62,500 t diverted
• Year 3: 600,000 t waste × 35% diversion = 210,000 t diverted

Material Circularity Rate

Formula:

Circularity Rate (%) = (Materials Reused / Total Materials Flowing) × 100

Projections:

• Year 1: 15% (heat-focused, limited material exchanges)
• Year 2: 25% (multi-resource expansion)
• Year 3: 35% (mature platform, full resource types)

EU Target Alignment: EU Circular Economy Action Plan targets 50% circularity by 2030 - Turash platform accelerates progress toward this goal.

2.3 Resource Efficiency Improvements

Economic-Environmental Linkage:

• Resource Cost Savings: €50M (Year 1) → €250M (Year 2) → €600M (Year 3)
• Resource Efficiency: € savings per ton of material flowing through platform
• Circularity Premium: Platform users achieve 20-30% resource cost reduction

Valuation:

• Material Productivity: €2,000-5,000 per ton material (varies by resource type)
• Platform Impact: 500 businesses × €100k average savings = €50M annual savings (Year 1)

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3. Water Conservation Impact

3.1 Water Reuse & Recycling

Year 1 Projections:

• 500 businesses engaged
• Average Water Flow: 5,000 m³/business/year (industrial facilities)
• Reuse Rate: 10% (conservative, Year 1)
• Water Reused: 500 × 5,000 × 0.10 = 250,000 m³ (Year 1)

Scaling:

• Year 2: 2,000 businesses × 25% reuse rate = 2.5 M m³
• Year 3: 5,000 businesses × 35% reuse rate = 8.75 M m³

Energy Impact:

• Water Treatment Energy: 1.0 kWh/m³ average
• Energy Saved: 250,000 m³ × 1.0 kWh/m³ = 250 MWh (Year 1)
• CO₂ Impact: 250 MWh × 0.3 t CO₂/MWh = 75 t CO₂ (Year 1)

3.2 Water Quality Improvement

Industrial Water Exchange:

• Process Water Reuse: Reducing freshwater withdrawal
• Cooling Water Recirculation: Reducing thermal pollution
• Wastewater Valorization: Converting waste streams to resources

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4. Energy Efficiency Impact

4.1 Waste Heat Recovery

Heat Exchange Impact (Primary environmental benefit):

European Context:

• Industrial Energy Waste: 45% of industrial energy consumption is recoverable as waste heat
• EU Industrial Energy: ~2,500 TWh/year total
• Recoverable Heat: ~1,125 TWh/year (45% waste heat potential)

Turash Platform Potential:

• Year 1: 500 GWh recovered (0.04% of EU potential)
• Year 3: 6,000 GWh recovered (0.5% of EU potential)
• Scaling Path: 5,000 businesses → 50,000 businesses → 500,000 businesses

Energy Displacement:

• Heat Generated: Typically from natural gas, oil, or grid electricity
• Emission Factor: 0.3 t CO₂/MWh (EU grid average)
• Avoided Energy Production: 500 GWh (Year 1) = 150,000 MWh primary energy avoided

4.2 Process Efficiency Improvements

Resource Matching Optimizations:

• Transport Optimization: Reduced transport distances for resource exchange
• Timing Optimization: Better temporal matching reduces storage needs
• Quality Matching: Optimal resource quality matching reduces waste

Energy Savings Estimation:

• Transport Reduction: 10-20% reduction in resource transport distance
• Storage Reduction: 15-25% reduction in storage energy requirements
• Total Process Efficiency: 5-10% additional energy savings beyond direct recovery

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5. Sustainability Metrics & KPIs

5.1 Platform-Level Metrics

Circular Economy KPIs:

• Material Circularity Rate: 15% → 25% → 35% (Year 1-3)
• Waste Diversion Rate: 15% → 25% → 35%
• Resource Efficiency Index: Baseline → +20% → +35% (improvement vs. baseline)
• Carbon Intensity Reduction: 0.5 t CO₂/€ revenue → 0.3 t CO₂/€ revenue (platform users)

Network Effect Metrics:

• Match Success Rate: 25-35% proposal-to-implementation conversion
• Network Density: Average 5-10 viable matches per business
• Local Clustering: 60%+ businesses within 5km radius of matches

5.2 Per-Business Metrics

Average Impact per Business:

• CO₂ Reduction: 200 t CO₂/year (Year 1) → 240 t CO₂/year (Year 3)
• Cost Savings: €100k/year average
• Resource Efficiency: 20-30% reduction in resource procurement costs
• Waste Reduction: 100 t/year diverted from landfill

Business Value Alignment:

• ROI: 5-20x return (€5k-50k savings per €1k platform cost)
• Regulatory Compliance: CSRD, EU Taxonomy alignment
• ESG Credentials: Demonstrable circular economy leadership

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6. Measurability Plan

6.1 Data Collection Methodology

Platform-Integrated Tracking:

1. Real-Time Resource Flow Data: IoT sensors, manual entry, ERP integration
2. Match Execution Tracking: Status pipeline tracking from proposal to operation
3. Environmental Impact Calculators: Automated CO₂, waste, water calculations
4. Business Reporting: Per-business and aggregate platform metrics

Data Quality Assurance:

• Data Quality Scoring: Rough/Estimated/Measured classification
• Verification Requirements: Measured data preferred for high-value exchanges
• Progress Tracking: Progressive data refinement encouraged through incentives

6.2 Measurement Frequency

Real-Time Metrics:

• CO₂ Savings: Calculated per match proposal, updated upon implementation
• Resource Flows: Continuous tracking of heat, water, waste flows
• Match Status: Real-time pipeline tracking (Proposed → Accepted → Implemented)

Periodic Reporting:

• Monthly Business Reports: CO₂ savings, cost savings, match success rates
• Quarterly Platform Reports: Aggregate environmental impact, network growth
• Annual Impact Assessment: Comprehensive environmental impact report

6.3 Verification & Auditing

Internal Verification:

• Algorithm Validation: CO₂ calculation formulas reviewed by environmental consultants
• Data Quality Checks: Automated validation of resource flow data
• Impact Attribution: Clear tracking of which businesses/cities contribute to which impacts

External Verification (Optional, for MRV compliance):

• Third-Party Auditing: Environmental consulting firms for impact verification
• Certification Standards: ISO 14064, GHG Protocol compliance
• Regulatory Reporting: CSRD, EU Taxonomy compliance documentation

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7. Alignment with DBU #DBUcirconomy Initiative

7.1 Strategic Alignment

DBU Circular Economy Focus Areas (from DBU funding requirements):

✅ Closing Material Loops:

• Platform enables waste-to-resource exchanges
• Material circularity rate: 15% → 35% (Year 1-3)
• By-product valorization and reuse

✅ Resource-Efficient Design:

• Optimized matching algorithms reduce resource waste
• Process efficiency improvements (5-10% additional savings)
• Spatial optimization (reduced transport distances)

✅ Recycling & New Circular Business Models:

• Platform creates new circular economy marketplace
• Facilitates resource exchange vs. traditional procurement/disposal
• Enables circular business model innovation

7.2 Innovation & Exemplary Nature

Innovation Characteristics:

• Technical Innovation: Graph-based matching algorithm, real-time matching
• Business Model Innovation: Platform-enabled circular economy marketplace
• Market Innovation: First scalable multi-resource industrial symbiosis platform

Exemplary & Solution-Oriented:

• Scalable Solution: 500 → 5,000 → 50,000 businesses (proven scaling path)
• Replicable Model: City-by-city expansion, EU-wide potential
• Measurable Impact: Quantified CO₂, waste, water savings

7.3 Practical Implementation Focus

Implementation Orientation:

• Pilot Projects: Berlin industrial + hospitality sector validation
• Real-World Deployment: 50+ businesses in Year 1 pilot
• Practical Barriers Addressed: Legal, technical, economic support through platform

Measurability Plan (DBU Requirement):

• Real-time impact tracking integrated in platform
• Monthly/quarterly reporting to businesses
• Annual comprehensive environmental impact assessment
• Third-party verification options available

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8. Alignment with EU Green Deal Objectives

8.1 EU Climate Targets

EU Green Deal Targets:

• 55% Emissions Reduction by 2030 (vs. 1990 baseline)
• Climate Neutrality by 2050

Turash Platform Contribution:

• 1.8M t CO₂ avoided (3-year cumulative) supports EU climate targets
• Scaling Potential: Platform can scale to 10M+ t CO₂/year by 2030 with 50,000 businesses
• Industrial Sector Focus: Addresses 1.2B t CO₂ from European industry annually

8.2 Circular Economy Action Plan

EU Circular Economy Objectives:

• 50% Circularity by 2030
• Waste Reduction: 50% reduction in municipal waste
• Material Productivity: 30% improvement

Platform Alignment:

• Material Circularity: 15% → 35% (accelerating toward 50% target)
• Waste Diversion: Enabling waste-to-resource conversion
• Resource Efficiency: 20-30% resource cost reduction per business

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9. Environmental Impact Projections by Resource Type

9.1 Heat Exchange (Primary - Year 1)

Environmental Impact:

• Energy Displacement: 500 GWh (Year 1) → 6,000 GWh (Year 3)
• CO₂ Avoided: 100,000 t (Year 1) → 1,200,000 t (Year 3)
• Fossil Fuel Displaced: Equivalent to 50M m³ natural gas (Year 1)

Multiplier Effect:

• District Heating Networks: Platform enables district heating expansion
• Cascade Systems: Multi-stage heat recovery (high → medium → low temperature)
• Seasonal Optimization: Better temporal matching improves utilization

9.2 Material & Waste Exchange (Year 2+ Focus)

Environmental Impact:

• Waste Diversion: 50,000 t (Year 1) → 600,000 t (Year 3)
• CO₂ Avoided: 75,000 t (Year 1) → 900,000 t (Year 3)
• Landfill Avoidance: Significant methane emissions avoided

Material Types:

• Construction Materials: Concrete, steel, wood reuse
• Industrial By-Products: Chemical, food processing by-products
• Packaging Materials: Plastic, cardboard, metal circularity

9.3 Water Exchange (Year 2+ Focus)

Environmental Impact:

• Water Reuse: 2.5 M m³ (Year 1) → 30 M m³ (Year 3)
• Energy Saved: 250 MWh (Year 1) → 30,000 MWh (Year 3)
• Freshwater Conservation: Reducing freshwater withdrawal pressure

Water Types:

• Process Water: Industrial process water reuse
• Cooling Water: Recirculation and heat recovery
• Wastewater Valorization: Converting waste streams to resources

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10. Calculation Methodology Reference

10.1 CO₂ Emission Factors (Source: EEA, 2025)

Energy Source	Emission Factor (t CO₂/MWh)
EU Grid Average	0.30
Natural Gas	0.20
Coal	0.35
Oil	0.27
Renewable	0.00

10.2 Material Production Emission Factors

Material	Production Factor (t CO₂/t)
Steel	2.0
Concrete	0.3
Plastics	2.5
Paper/Cardboard	1.2
Glass	0.5
Average (Blended)	1.5

10.3 Water Treatment Energy

Treatment Type	Energy (kWh/m³)
Basic Treatment	0.5
Standard Treatment	1.0
Advanced Treatment	1.5
Average	1.0

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11. Assumptions & Limitations

11.1 Key Assumptions

1. Utilization Rate: 70% of matched resources are successfully implemented
2. Grid Emission Factor: EU average (0.3 t CO₂/MWh) used for calculations
3. Conversion Efficiency: 90% efficiency for heat exchangers (10% losses)
4. Data Quality: Year 1 relies on estimated data; improves to measured data in Year 2-3
5. Business Participation: 500 businesses Year 1, scaling to 5,000 Year 3

11.2 Limitations & Conservative Estimates

Conservative Approach:

• Year 1 CO₂: 100,000 t (conservative, heat-focused)
• Potential Maximum: 135,000 t (if all heat matches fully utilized)
• Realistic Target: 100,000 t (accounting for 70% implementation rate)

Data Quality Limitations:

• Year 1: Estimated data (rough/estimated classification)
• Year 2+: Measured data improves accuracy (±5% precision)
• Impact: Conservative estimates until measured data available

Scalability Assumptions:

• Linear scaling assumed (500 → 2,000 → 5,000 businesses)
• Network effects may accelerate growth beyond projections
• Geographic expansion may vary by city characteristics

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12. Verification & Reporting Framework

12.1 Platform-Integrated Verification

Automated Calculations:

• Real-time CO₂ savings per resource exchange
• Automated waste diversion tracking
• Water reuse impact calculations

Data Sources:

• IoT sensor data (for measured data)
• ERP/SCADA integration (automated data ingestion)
• Manual entry with quality scoring (estimated/rough data)

12.2 Reporting Structure

Business-Level Reports (Monthly):

• CO₂ savings per business
• Cost savings achieved
• Match success rates
• Resource efficiency improvements

Platform-Level Reports (Quarterly/Annual):

• Aggregate environmental impact
• Network growth metrics
• Circular economy KPIs
• Geographic expansion progress

Public Reporting (Annual):

• Comprehensive environmental impact assessment
• Third-party verification (optional, for MRV compliance)
• Alignment with EU Green Deal progress
• DBU #DBUcirconomy initiative contribution

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13. References & Standards

13.1 Regulatory Standards

• GHG Protocol: Corporate Standard, Scope 3 Accounting
• ISO 14064: Greenhouse Gas Accounting and Verification
• CSRD: Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive
• EU Taxonomy: Technical Screening Criteria for Circular Economy

13.2 Methodology References

• European Environment Agency (EEA): Grid emission factors, CO₂ accounting
• EU Circular Economy Action Plan: Material circularity metrics
• EU Green Deal: Climate targets and circular economy objectives
• DBU #DBUcirconomy Initiative: Circular economy focus areas

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14. Future Impact Scaling

14.1 2030 Projections (EU Green Deal Timeline)

With 50,000 Businesses on Platform:

• CO₂ Avoided: 10-15M t CO₂/year
• Waste Heat Recovered: 50,000 GWh/year
• Material Circularity: 40-50% (approaching EU 50% target)
• Platform Contribution: 1-2% of EU industrial emissions reduction

14.2 Path to Climate Neutrality (2050)

Scaling Potential:

• Platform Scale: 500,000 businesses (EU-wide industrial base)
• Circularity Rate: 50-60% (exceeding EU targets)
• CO₂ Impact: 50-100M t CO₂/year avoided
• Industrial Emissions: 5-10% of EU industrial emissions addressed through platform

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This environmental impact assessment is based on conservative estimates and validated methodologies. Actual impacts may exceed projections as network effects accelerate adoption and data quality improves.

Last Updated: November 2025